"So this is the legendary Prophetic Oracle?"
Bolos looked at the stone tablet, his curiosity deepening.
It was one of the most famous artifacts in Greek Myths. It was originally held by Mother Earth Gaia, then passed on to her favorite daughter, Themis.
Later, the Oracle was inherited by Apollo. Since his temple was in Delphi, it became known as the Delphi Oracle.
Themis was now using the Prophetic Oracle to examine Bolos and determine whether he was truly the son of Zeus.
Hera's anxious heart sank; she knew the secret about throwing that "little monster" off Mount Olympus was about to be exposed.
She clutched Polo tightly in her arms, silently resolving that no matter what happened, she would protect this child.
In Hera's arms, Bolos widened his eyes as he watched Themis's every move, but he wasn't worried.
"Can this Oracle really see the future?"
"What kind of revelation will she receive—one belonging to the Greek Divine Being Bolos's future, or one that includes all the systems I carry?"
Bolos was filled with curiosity as he waited for the answer.
If Themis really managed to expose his origins through the Prophetic Oracle, then he would just return to the Tree of Life and resurrect again.
The only real consequence would be that the Divine Office on this path might need to be granted by another primordial ruler.
Before long, the illusory river vanished, and the Prophetic Oracle returned to Themis's hand. She removed the blindfold from her face and looked at the King and Queen of the Gods—and at Bolos.
Her expression was cold and thoughtful. Zeus, Hera, and Bolos all waited for her answer.
"He is the son of Zeus. His name shall be Bolos."
After speaking, Themis gave Hera a deep glance, her eyes filled with doubt.
Then she glanced at Zeus with a complicated expression, sighed softly, and left the Divine Temple of Olympus, returning to her own shrine.
"Looks like taking on Bolos's identity and karma worked after all. What she saw from the Oracle must have been the son of Zeus and Metis—Bolos."
Bolos felt reassured. Gaining the Divine Office and receiving his second Divine Power blessing were now almost guaranteed.
He resumed sucking and playing, while Zeus's apologies and attempts to flatter Hera rang in his ears—nothing but noise to him.
After Zeus explained the current political situation and how precarious his position as King of the Gods was—how he needed strong, talented newborn Divine Beings—Hera finally accepted that Zeus had brought Apollo and Artemis to grow up on Mount Olympus.
She wished Zeus belonged to her alone, but she cared even more about her status as Queen of the Gods.
The pillar of Olympus designated by Fate was helping Zeus—but it also supported her.
As for the matter of Bolos, neither the King nor Queen of the Gods brought it up again. Both had their own secrets and chose not to say more.
Zeus was relieved that he hadn't directly accused Hera of infidelity. He had simply "checked" the child, and that was how he insisted on framing it.
To his delight, Hera—perhaps still dazed from childbirth—no longer pressed the matter.
Deep inside, Hera was also relieved. Lady Themis, the goddess of justice and order, had once again sided with her—and even told a lie.
Still, Hera didn't forget about Bolos. As Zeus prepared to leave, she demanded benefits for her son:
"I don't care how you treat Apollo and Artemis. But my child Bolos must receive a proper Divine Office."
Hera could feel that Bolos's first Divine Power blessing from Heaven and Earth was no less than her own at birth. He would certainly become a powerful Divine Being when grown.
Precisely because of this, his second Divine Power blessing—and the matching Divine Office—had to be appropriate.
The Lord of the Ocean had thousands of children, many of whom were born with strong Divine Power, but lacked fitting or timely Divine Offices, and so faded into obscurity among the gods.
She could see clearly that Zeus still didn't like Bolos. But she wouldn't let her most perfect child fall into that fate.
And just as Hera suspected, even though the Goddess of Justice had confirmed this was indeed his child, Zeus still felt disgust when he looked at the black hair and black eyes—so similar to that foreign god.
To appease Hera completely and gain the chance to go out and "find allies" without endangering Apollo and Artemis, Zeus agreed to her demand.
"He can choose his own Divine Office if he wants—so long as it's not something outrageous, I'll allow it."
After Zeus left, Hera cradled Bolos in her arms. Her noble and elegant face was radiant with maternal affection.
"Bolos, don't you think we should prepare a gift for Themis?"
Bolos rolled his eyes. Clearly, this Queen of the Gods still believed Themis had lied.
In any case, whatever Themis truly saw in the Oracle's vision, Bolos was satisfied with the outcome. His goal in coming to Mount Olympus was more than halfway complete.
As long as he could obtain a Divine Office and complete his second Divine Power blessing before Hera's "true son" Hephaestus arrived, even if Zeus found out, it wouldn't matter much.
"God of Opportunity and Creation, huh?"
Bolos thought of the Divine Office once meant for that namesake in the myths, who never got the chance to be born. He began to consider if that might be his choice.
As for lightning—a component of Divine Power—Bolos didn't even bother hoping. He knew Zeus would never share that Authority with him.
…
After leaving Hera's Divine Temple, Zeus sought out Artemis and Apollo.
Earlier, in his rush to visit Hera and the newborn, and to gain Hera's consent for them to stay on Olympus, he had temporarily left the siblings in the King of the Gods' main hall.
Now, Zeus brought out a pair of Divine Artifact longbows from his treasury.
One was golden and dazzling, the other silver and snow-like—both extremely powerful Divine Artifacts forged by the Cyclopes at the command of the first King of the Gods.
"Since you like archery, these divine bows are yours."
"The golden bow, with a hail of arrows, will accompany Artemis throughout her life; the silver bow, never missing its mark, will be Apollo's finest companion."
The sibling pair accepted the divine bows from Zeus and expressed their thanks.
Yet in their hearts, the bows they cherished most were the ones given by their "father"—made from ordinary wood.
In front of Zeus, they could only put away those "toy" bows and hide their feelings.
Seeing the siblings so happy with his gifts, Zeus smiled with satisfaction.
He had many children, but it wasn't until now—standing before these two—that he finally felt what it meant to be a father.
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